CANCUN AND WORLD TRADE

Early day motion 1658, tabled 9 September 2003 by Caroline Spelman (Conservative). Signed by 73 members.

That this House recognises that the World Trade Organisation talks in Cancun represent a significant opportunity to make real progress in the reform of trade rules which are fair to both developing and developed countries; notes that the World Bank estimates that a successful conclusion to the Cancun round could boost incomes globally by $270 to $520 billion and that developing countries could obtain at least half this benefit by 2015, lifting 144 million of people out of poverty; welcomes the progress made with the decision in August to allow the distribution of generic copies of patented medicines; urges the Government to use its influence to persuade other developed nations to abolish protectionist measures which distort international trade, especially agricultural subsidies such as those contained in the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU which no longer even serve our own farmers well; and commends to the attention of the Government measures such as an Advocacy Fund to provide economic and legal representation of equal calibre to our own for developing countries during trade negotiations.

Signatures by party: Conservative 67, Independent Ulster Unionist 2, Liberal Democrat 2, Independent Conservative 1, Labour 1.